Breastfeeding for any amount of time linked to lower blood pressure in toddlers, study finds - CNN

CHILD is a longitudinal study that tracks the health of thousands of Canadian mothers and their children born between 2009 and 2012.

The study analyzed data on the length of time infants were breastfed and compared it to their blood pressure at age 3.

Breastfeeding immediately after birth 'crucial'

Previous studies attempting to examine the link between breastfeeding and children's blood pressure have been inconsistent, likely due to varying definitions of breastfeeding, the study noted.

Researchers for the current study categorized the children based on the duration of breastfeeding in the first days of life.

This information allowed them to come to the conclusion that even breastfeeding only for the limited one to three days in the hospital is linked with lower blood pressure at age 3.

"The findings that we see on breastfeeding and blood pressure could be clinically relevant," Miliku said.

These must all be acknowledged and tackled by policy makers and health care providers, she said.

In light of its findings, the study authors emphasized the need for immediate postpartum lactation support and increased education about breastfeeding to new and expecting mothers.

Similarly, Feldman-Winter said the study makes the case for policies that "work to improve maternity care practices that support breastfeeding initiation."

Azad and Miliku hope to continue following this cohort and monitoring whether these differences in blood pressure levels at age 3 impact the participants' health into adulthood.